New David Attenborough series explores parenthood
What is the new David Attenborough series about?
The new series explores the lengths that animals have to go to to keep their young alive. Series Producer and Director Jeff Wilson said: "There have been countless programmes on the animal babies, and whilst full of adorable animals, they have missed the fact that the majority of the narrative in raising young lies with the parents. "The choices they make around the environment they bring their young into, the home they create, the relentless need to provide food, the constant protection from threats, the life experiences that their offspring need to be exposed to before they can become truly independent."Each episode explores something different like parenting in the ocean, grasslands, freshwater and in the jungle.
How was the new David Attenborough series filmed?
The incredible ultra high definition footage was captured over three years - 1,427 days to be precise. Some of the stories were filmed using new techniques with technology to observe specific behaviour. To film hippos in Tanzania, the team developed new ways to use Infra-Red technology inside a unit that could drive alongside the mother hippos in the dark. There were a lot of animals whose parenting behaviour has never been captured on camera before. One of those species to have never even be filmed before is the Pheasant-Tailed Jacana. The series will show its egg rolling and the consequences of caterpillar infestation on its breeding sites.
What animals were filmed in the new David Attenborough series?
Parenthood explores some species that have never been caught on camera, as well as animals and insects we already know and love. The creatures include lions, hippos, spiders, crabs, dolphins, whales, monkeys and frogs. The rarest animal to have been filmed was the Iberian Lynx in Spain. This species is the world's most endangered species of cat, but thanks to conservation efforts numbers are improving.
When does the new David Attenborough series start and how can I watch it?
Parenthood starts on Sunday 3 August on BBC One.All episodes will also be available on BBC iPlayer. There are six episodes in the series.
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